Blood lancet



July 28, 1953 G. W. JACOBY, JR

BLOOD LANCET Filed Feb. 14, 1951 INVENTOR. GEORGE w J'A cos x1e.

am/W ATTORNEYS Patented July 28, i953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,646,799 I 1 131.001) LANCET George W. J acoby, J r., Wooster, Ohio Application February 14, 1951., Serial No. 210,874

7 Claims. (Cl. 128-314.)

This invention relates to surgical instruments, and more specifically,, to lancets for piercin human tissue to obtain blood samples. In the past, blood samples have been obtained by piercing a finger tip with a lance or stylet operated by a spring releasemechanism. The stylet would thereupon thrust the tissue toward the bone and often times would strike the bone, thus causing pain to the patient.

It is an object of this invention to provide a lancet which will pierce the tissue of a finger or earlobe and cause a minimum of pain and distress to the patient. 7 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a lancet which has parts for elevating .andholding tissue in a rigid manner previous to and during the puncturing operation.

provide a lancet which pierces the tissue to a uniform depth which is adjustable and is controlled by parts associated with the lancet-carrying means. i

Another important object of this invention is to provide a lancet and frame structure which may be easily dis-assembled and is also arranged for ease of cleaning and sterilization.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lancet structure which has the cutting element removable for replacement upon deterioration with use.

Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appear in the following description, which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention. I

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveassembly view of the lancet;

holding and piercing position; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the stylet moved from the operating position to the cleaning position.

Referring first to Fig. l, the preferred embodiment of my invention has a bifurcated frame, generally designated by the numeral I0, having a handle I2 and a pair of legs I4 and I6. The legs I4 and I6 are formed so that they are resiliently carried by the handle I2 and may be moved toward each other with ordinary finger pressure. A pair of jaws I8 and 20 are formed on the ends of each of the legs I4 and I6 respectively, opposite to the handle I2 by lateral recesses 22 in opposed relationship on the inner walls of legs I4 and I6.

A stylet 24, which is in the form of a flatbladed, double-edged, pointed knife, is mounted on a resilient arm 26 for movement toward and away from the Jaw I8. The Jaw I8 has a stylet Fig; 2 is a side view of the "lancet in tissue receiving notch 28 formed therein. A second notch 30 is formed in jaw 20 in register with notch 28 so that the stylet 24 may pass through the notch 28 and be received by the notch 3Il. The notch 30 receives the stylet 24 when the jaws I8 and 20 are brought together, thus eliminating damage and dulling which would result from the stylet 24 interferring with the jaw 20 in the absence of such a provision. When the instrument is in use, the stylet would not extend to the notch 30 unless the tissueheld between the jaws I8 and 26 were extremely thin.

A rectangular channel is disposed in the outside wall of leg I4 for receiving arm 26 and holding the arm 26 against rotational movement when the stylet 24 is in the notch 28. The arm 26 is held in the channel 32 by the thumb screw 34 which passes through the arm 26 and is threadably engaged with the leg I4. A transverse groove 36, inline with the thumb screw 34 and normal to the medial axis of the channel 32, is complementary in shape to the arm 26 and is utilized for holding said arm inan alternate position indicated in Fig. 3. I

The extent of travel of the arm 26 andstylet 24 is limited by the adjusting screw 38. The rotation of the screw 38 moves the same inwardly and outwardly as required to obtain the desired penetration of the stylet 24 past the inner surface of jaw I8.

The lancet is ordinarily held in the hand as lancet is moved into tissue-engaging position with the, jaw separated, as indicated in Fig. 1, whereupon pressure is exerted on the leg-s I4 and I6 by the thumb and forefinger of the hand, thus picking the tissue up and holding it rigidly in preparation for the cutting or puncturing operation. With the tissue picked up and held by the jaws I8 and 20, absolute control over the part to be punctured is maintained and the dull pressure in pinching the skin produces a dull pain which is not objectionable but exceeds the pain produced by the sharp lancet. The patient, therefore, is unaware when the penetration of the lancet takes place.

With the tissue held securely in the jaws, the cutting edge of the stylet is moved by the third finger of the operators hand until the arm engages the screw 38. In this manner, the fold of the tissue is pierced through the side thereof at right angles and in a direction approximately parallel to the bone. The position of the adjusting screw 38, therefore, will determine the depth of penetration obtained by the operation of the stylet. By piercing the fold of tissue transversely, it is impossible to penetrate to the bone, thereby eliminating increased pain to the patient. One of the disadvantages of the spring-release type stylet is, therefore, elimis nated.

After the lancet has been used, the stylettmay be moved into position for cleaningby releasing the thumb screw 34 and rotating the arm 26' to a position normal to the leg whereupc-nnthec stylet 24 is free of the jaws l8 and 20. Further, the jaws may be cleaned with facility'since the sharp stylet has been removed therefrom and only" rounded edges remain; It may-benotedthat all parts of the assembly-will be unaffected byi-h'eatand; therefore, it'is'well adapted to high temperature sterilization asordinarily carriediorwardin iaborateries and licspitala Removal of thumb screw 3t ailows the *rapid replacement of arm 25- and stylet M -when required by the styletbecoming duil The frame leis-made espeeiaily'sturdy for long iiie' wh iie-the stylet and arm: aredesigned be expandable and replaceable: at a: minimum cost after a period of use.

Although the foregoing description 'is' necessarily' ofa detailedi character, in orderthat the invention may be eompleteiy set forth; it is to be understood that thespecifie terminology .is not intended to bra-restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modificationsoidetail may be resortedto -without departing from the-seope'cr spirit crth'e invention as herein claimed;

What isclaimed is 1i Asurgieal instrument for piercing the skin comprising a frame having a pairof-"jaws shiftably mounted thereon, aresilient arm= having one end afii'rted to said frame, a knife mounted: on the other end oi said arm; and a n'ctch in one of'the jaws adjacent said arm, saidk nife being movabie throughsaidnotch whereby the siiin re tained by the said jaws is punctured when the knife is moved toward the jaws,

2. A surgical instrument for piercing the comprising a-frarne having a pair of jawsresiii-- entiy mounted thereon, a resilientarmqhaving ne end anixed to said frame,- akniie mounted on the other end of said arm, and a note'h in one of the jaws adjacent said arm, said knife being movable through said noteh' whereby the: skin retained by the said jaws is panetured when: the knife is movedinto the notch.

31' A surgicai instrument for piercing-' th'eiskin comprising a' frame having a pair or jaws'shiit abiy mounted: thereon, knife means carried for movement by the frame, and a notch in one of the jaws, said knife being movable through said notch whereby the skin retained by the said jaws is punctured when the knife is moved through said notchit.

4. A surgical instrument for piercing the skin comprising a frame having a pair of jaws shiftably mounted thereon, a resilient arm having onemrd affixed to said frame, knife means shiftably, carried by.the other end of said arm, and a notch in the jaw adjacent said arm, said knife beingixmovableithrough said notch whereby the skin retained by the said jaws is punctured when saidknifeis moved through said notch.

5. A surgical instrument for piercing the skin comprising a frame: having a pair ot jaws shittably mounted th ereongairesi'lient arm' having" one end aiflked to said frame; the opposite-end of said arm being' spaced" fio'm -on-oi said jawas knife means shiftaibly carried by the movableend ofsaid arms and notch in'thejaw adjacent said arm fer receiving said khi f whereby theskin retainedby the said'j aws is punctured whensaid knife is moved through said noteh? 6s sa'rgicaa instrument for piercing the-'- skin com-prisinga frame having-a pair ofjaws shifta'biy mounted thereon, aresii'ient arm having one end anixed to said frame, kn' i fe means car tied "by-the other end of i said amr movableinto sk in engaging position Whensaid ski-n is 1'e-- tained ir r said-"jaws; and screw means on said frame for limiting the travel of said kniietoward the jaws:

I; A surgicai instrument for piercing the skin r comprising-a name having a-pair of 3am shiftab-1 7* mounted thereon, a resilient havingone end afiixed to said frame, knife means' car ried by-theother end ot-said arm momble' into skin engaging position whem saidskin is retaihed-"ihf" said jaws; andan adj ustingscrew on said frame for lir'nitin'g the mcvementof- *saidknife-tcwardthejaws:

J AUO'EY; Jai

Number: Name Date 2130;073. Seyfarth: Lemu July-l3, 1880 574;1-76: Goya; -ls u aJan 5, .1897 781,488 Blumer Jan. 31,1905

2,288,445 Frizell June 30,1942

FOREIGN PATENTS-E Number Country Date 183,935 Germanyahnainn Apr. 20,190? 626,062 Frances imMay. 2, 1927 

